Daily Readings - Mon Jul 24 2017
First Reading - Exodus 14.5-18
Exodus
5And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?6And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:7And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.8And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.9But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.10And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.11And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?12Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.13And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.14The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.15And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:16But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.17And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.18And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
Gospel - Matthew 12.38-42
Matthew
38Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.39But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.41The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.42The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on trust and the presence of God in our lives. The first reading from Exodus recounts the dramatic escape of the Israelites from Pharaoh's army. As the Egyptians close in, the Israelites are gripped by fear, questioning Moses' leadership. Yet Moses assures them, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the great wonders of the Lord." This moment of crisis becomes a moment of revelation, as God parts the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape unharmed. The story reminds us that even in the face of overwhelming challenges, God's providence can lead us to safety and freedom.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus' conversation with the Pharisees. When they demand a sign, Jesus points to the sign of Jonah, a prophet who spent three days in the belly of a whale before preaching repentance to the people of Nineveh. Jesus implies that his own death and resurrection will be the ultimate sign for his generation. He also contrasts the faith of the people of Nineveh and the Queen of the South, who recognized God's wisdom without hesitation, with the skepticism of those who refuse to see the divine presence in their midst. This passage challenges us to examine our own hearts: do we seek signs to believe, or do we trust in God's presence even when it is unseen?
These readings intersect in their call to trust and faith. The Israelites had to trust Moses and God's promise to deliver them, even when the situation seemed hopeless. Similarly, Jesus invites us to trust in his presence and the wisdom he offers, without demanding proof. In our daily lives, we often face moments of uncertainty and doubt, where the challenges before us seem insurmountable. Yet, these readings remind us that God is always with us, guiding us through the "sea" of life. Let us stand firm in faith, trusting that God's wonders will unfold in His time. May we, like the people of Nineveh, repent and turn to Him with open hearts, recognizing the greater wisdom and love that stands before us in Jesus Christ.